Ultrahuman vs. Oura: A Case Study in Patent Infringement and the High Cost of Not Following IP Laws

In the realm of health-tech wearables, things change quickly, but the law doesn’t change as quickly. The recent patent fight between Indian startup Ultrahuman and Finnish-American smart ring behemoth Oura has brought this truth to the attention of people all over the world.

This case is about more than just the law and technology. It serves as a warning about how important it is for companies that want to grow globally to follow intellectual property (IP) rules. The outcome of this lawsuit might have enduring effects for the tech innovation ecosystem as a whole, as well as on the companies involved, because their markets, revenues, and reputations are all at stake.

Background: The Rise of Ultrahuman

Ultrahuman was started in 2019 by Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal, who used to work for Zomato. It quickly became a promising player in the global healthtech business. The goal of the startup was to improve human performance by creating new wearable gadgets that could track metabolism, sleep, and recovery.

Ultrahuman released the Ring Air in 2022. It was a smart ring that promised to help people keep track of their health. The product was well-received and immediately became popular in markets around the world, especially in the US, which swiftly became the company’s biggest source of income.

People did notice, though, that this was a success.

The Dispute: Claims of Patent Infringement

Oura Health filed a patent infringement case in the United States not long after the Ring Air came out. Oura said that Ultrahuman had not only duplicated the design of its device, but had also broken several of its usefulness and design patents. The matter got worse when it was reported that former Oura employees might have given the Indian business trade secrets.

In early 2025, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) made a preliminary decision in favor of Oura, saying that Ultrahuman’s Ring Air had violated numerous of Oura’s patents. If the decision stands, Ultrahuman’s smart ring may not be able to be brought into or sold in the US.

This is a big setback for Ultrahuman. The US is now responsible for about half of the company’s sales, which reached almost INR 600 crore in FY 2025, up six times from the previous year.

What it means for business strategy: risk and legal response

Ultrahuman has come up with a multi-pronged plan to deal with the possibility of losing its biggest market. The corporation wants to build a factory in Texas called the “UltraFactory” so that it can make things in the US and get around the import prohibition. By the end of 2025, operationalization should be done.

Ultrahuman is also adding new software, home health monitoring devices, and preventive blood-testing solutions to its product line. It is also looking for retail partners, expanding into new areas, and working to make software sales account for 15% of its total revenue. In FY 2026, the company expects to make INR 1,650 crore.

Even with these steps, the shadow of the patent lawsuit is still there. If the ultimate decision goes against Ultrahuman, they could lose their reputation for a long time, suffer legal problems in other places, and have to pay retroactive penalties.

Legal Analysis: Getting to the Bottom of the Main Issues

This case brings to light a few very important parts of intellectual property and compliance law:

1. Patent Infringement: Oura’s claim is based on both utility and design patent breaches. Design patents protect how a product looks, and utility patents protect how it operates. If someone is found to have violated one of these rules, they could face serious legal problems.

2. Trade Secret Misappropriation: The claim that ex-Oura workers may have disclosed private information makes things much more complicated. When private information is exploited, US trade secret rules say that there can be both civil and criminal sanctions.

3. Following the rules for international trade: The USITC can stop importation of goods that violate US patents under Section 337 of the US Tariff Act. When the accused infringement is headquartered outside the United States, this makes IP issues more international.

4. Risk of Employment and Exit Clauses: Startups often don’t realize how important it is to have well-written employment contracts, NDAs, and exit plans. If a business can’t show that it developed its IP on its own, it could be sued.

Things that new businesses and their founders can learn

The Ultrahuman vs. Oura case has important lessons for all innovators, but especially those in tech-driven fields:

complete thorough patent research: Before releasing a product, companies must complete thorough freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis to make sure they don’t violate existing IP rights.

Plan your IP strategy ahead of time:

It’s important to protect your new ideas with patents and trademarks, from the design of your products to the functions of your software.

Make Employment Contracts and NDAs Stronger: Make sure that all employees, especially those in tech and product roles, sign strong agreements that protect private information.

Know the IP Laws in Each Country:

When enterprises want to do business in other countries, they need to know the IP laws in those countries and follow international standards.

Use following the law as a way to get ahead of the competition:

Compliance that is well-managed not only keeps you out of court, but it also makes investors more confident, raises the value of your company, and opens up new markets.

In conclusion, compliance is not a burden; it is a business need.
The ongoing patent issue between Ultrahuman and Oura shows that following the law, especially when it comes to intellectual property, is not something that can be put off. It is a key part of long-term success, especially for new businesses that want to grow across borders.

In today’s economy of innovation, not following the rules might get your product banned, cost you market share, and permanently destroy your brand.

Are you ready for your startup?

Tradeviser makes it easy for firms like yours to deal with complicated compliance issues. We make sure your new idea is legally safe and ready for the market by helping with IP advice, contract review, international trade compliance, and litigation support.

Call our legal and compliance specialists today for a free consultation.

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